Apparatus for keying purlins



July 27, 1965 M. PIGET 3,196,994

APPARATUS FOR KEYING PURLINS Filed Jan. 15, 1963 United States Patent 3,i%,4 APPARA'HE FGR KEYiN-G PURLTNS Maurice Piget, 9 Rue du Fanbourg St. Honor-e, Paris, France Filed 35 15, 1963, Ser. No. 251,584 flairns priority, application France, .lan. 26, 1962, 336,915, Patent 1,320,196 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates to an arrangement for connecting structural members, and more particularly, it concerns apparatus for attaching purlins to beams or to other purlins without tapping and bolting and without substantial welding.

In accordance with this invention a connection arrangement of the type aforementioned is provided and which facilitates the positioning of a purlin relative to another structural member, such as a beam, together with coupling means for simply but effectively securing the purlin in place. securement of multiple purlins at differing elevations relative to a generally horizontal beam framework to establish a desired slope between purlins.

A more complete understanding of the present invention will be had from the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a plurality of purlins secured to a beam at different elevations in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-section illustrating the purlin coupling apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the principal coupling member of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in the drawing, a secondary framework is shown connected to a main framework including a generally horizontal beam 1 having a base flange 1a with integral, inverted L-shaped portions 1b formed thereon and spaced to provide a middle longitudinal cavity and a pair of side opening longitudinal cavities 1d. Brackets 2a and 2b each having a heel portion and a bent upper end portion 3 are secured in spaced relationship on the beam 1 by welding the respective heel portions within the middle cavity 10. It will be noted that the brackets 2a and 2b are of differing heights so that by selecting an appropriate spacing between brackets a predetermined slope is established by the upper ends thereof.

Purlins 4- are positioned on the upper ends 3 of the brackets 2a and 2b and secured in place by coupling members 5 of inverted U-shape. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the coupling member has an opening 6 formed in the upper Wall thereof and through which the bent end 3 of each bracket is passed (see FIG. 2). The opening The invention also encompasses the 3,l%,99.d Patented July 27, 1965 is formed by a tongue 7 struck out of the upper wall of the member 5 which tongue is bent back to complement a radius 8 established by the underside of the bent over bracket portions 3;. Also it will be noted that the tongue '7 is positioned adjacent to a flange 9 on the coupling member 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the purlins 4 are or" C- shaped cross-section to define a pair of inwardly extending flanges it on the open side thereof. In the final assembly the bent portions 3 of the brackets Z and 2a extend through the open side or each purlin and under the upper one of the flanges it). Also, as shown in PEG. 2, the lower flange it of each purlin is clamped between the flange 9 of the coupling members 5 and the brackets 2a and 2b respectively by a wedge 11 being driven into the opening 6 on the side thereof opposite from the tongue 7 and flange 9.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination: a beam having a longitudinally extending cavity, a bracket having a heel portion at one end secured in said cavity, and a bent portion at its other end, a purlin of C-shaped cross-section to define a pair of inwardly extending flanges on the open side thereof, the bent portion or" said bracket extending through the open side of said purlin and under one of said i wardly extending flanges, and means for connecting the other of said flanges to said bracket, said means comprising a coupling having an opening for receiving said bracket, a flange portion adjacent said opening and wedge means for clamping the other of said inwardly extending flanges between said coupling flange portion and said bracket.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 in which said coupling is of inverted U-shape configuration and wherein said opening is defined by a portion or" said coupling struck out to form a tab lying against said bracket.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 including a plurality of purlins extending transversely of said beam and a plurality of brackets of differing heights connecting said purlins to said beam to establish a slope between said purlins.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS v 7/23 White 3051.5

FORElGN PATENTS 1,017,872 10/52 France.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MAQHADO, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A BEAM HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CAVITY, A BRACKET HAVING A HEEL PORTION AT ONE END SECURED IN SAID CAVITY, AND A BENT PORTION AT ITS OTHER END, A PURLIN OF C-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION TO DEFINE A PAIR OF INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ON THE OPEN SIDE THEREOF, THE BENT PORTION OF SAID BRACKET EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID PURLIN AND UNDER ONE OF SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE OTHER OF SAID FLANGES TO SAID BRACKET, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A COUPLING HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID BRACKET, A FLANGE PORTION ADJACENT SAID OPENING AND WEDGE MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE OTHER OF SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES BETWEEN SAID COUPLING FLANGE PORTION AND SAID BRACKET. 